Ball-bearing spindle



T. M. PRUDDEN.

BALL BEARING SPINDLE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1919.

1,341,019. Patented May 25, 1920.

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a \nvenior.

TheodoreMPmdden WWSL QXM UNITED STATES PATENT or-ric THEODORE M. rnunnnn, or NEWTON, lvinssaonusnrrs.

Application filed May 23, 1919. Serial No. 299,141.;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE M. Pam)- DEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newton, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Ball-Bearing Spindles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a speci fication, like characterson the drawing rep resenting like parts. p

This invention relates. to improvements in i ball-bearing spindles, and the obj ect thereof is to provide a novel form of spindleiof simple construction which will be eiiicient in operation and which may be easily assembled and accurately adjusted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ball-bearing spindle having means whereby the bearings may-be adjusted, and the adjustment may be sealed softhatit cannot be tampered with.

A further object of the invention 1s to provide a novel means for sealing the lower step-bearing against improper adjustment.

A further object of the 'inventionis to provide a ball-bearing spindle in which the spindle may be inserted into its casing from the top in assembling the same, and which will be prevented from removal from the casing when the lower bearing is adjusted to operative position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ball-bearing spindle having a whirl which is located above the upper bear- %)ther objects and features of the invention will more. fully appear from the fol;- lowing description and it accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the an;- nexed claims. 7 1 j A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- 7 p Figure 1 is a side elevation of a spindle blade, whirl, and casing or} bolster for the spindle bearing.

Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional V 7 the upper bearing in the chamber 5, the wall view of the bolster, and upper and lower ball-bearings, and whirl showing the spindle blade in elevation. v

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on lines 33, Fig. 2 looking upwardly. I

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the lower step-bearing.

he spindle'bearing illustrated in the ac Specification of Letters Patent.

BALL-Jeannine SPINDLE.

Patented'May 25, 1920,

companyingdrawing comprises a casing or,

bolster having a cylindrical body portion 1, the central portion of which is provided with screw threads 2, by means of which the same can be attached to the rail of the spinning machine or any other suitable supportf The lower portion 3 of the body may be of smaller dian'leterto permit it to be thrust through the screw threaded opening in a supporting means. The casing or bolster is provided with an enlarged upper end thavinga preferably cylindrical chamber 5 for the upper ball-bearings. The lower end of the body portion of the casing or bolster is open and the walls thereof preferably are provided with screw threads 6 adapted to' engage complementary threads upon the lower step-bearing 7, which preferably is in the form of a cup adapted to receive a series of balls 8, which engage the lower beveled end 9 of the spindle blade 10.

The upper bearing for the spindle blade 10 preferably. comprises'a cone 11, which maybe madeintegral with thb spindle blade, but preferably is made separately,

and shrunk or otherwise secured upon a spindle blade, and a cooperating bearing larged portion 4 oft-he casing, so that dur ing the rotation of the spindle the cup member 12 of the bearing may be allowed gradually to rotate or creep, thereby preventing wear upon only one side of the hearing, which would occur if the cup member were retained rigidly in one position. The wall 15 of the cup member may be provided with one or more'recesses 17 adapted to catch and'retain dust which may creep down bej tween said wall and the wall 16 of the casing.

In order to retain the cup member 12 of 16 is provided with an annular groove '18 near its top adapted to receive an expanding tion of the cup member'12 desirably is provided with a beveled or grooved face 20 adapted to engage the ring 19 and secure it.

ll till 22fmay be: secured to the spindle blade. The

cup

i in the groove 18, thereby, positively looking I the bearing against removal.

The depth of the chamber 5 is, of course, such. that when it is desired to remove thespindle from the casing the 'step-bearing 7fmust be retracted sufficiently to release the engagement of the beveled pertion 20 of the cup bearing from contact with the 'ringfllf), whereupon the ring 19 may be pried out ofthe groove 18 by a suitable instrument.

The construction of the upper bearing,

r above described, is such that when the cup 12' is locked against the ring 19 and the stepbearing 7 properly adjusted in respect to the lower end, of the spindle blade, there can be no play which will interfere with the proper operation of the spindle.

Inasmuch as tampering with the adjustment of the ball-bearing spindles results in throwing the spindle out. of proper alinement and destroying their effectiveness "means have "been provided whereby the V manufacturer or person setting up the spin- 1 dlef may seal the bearings. A convenient means, which is illustrated herein, 'is'pro- 'videdby cuttingca" groove transversely of the lower end of the step-bearing, the walls member will then be inserted in the chamber 5101? the enlarged portion 401 the casing and the ring-19 expanded into the slot "21. "Theballs 8 will then be placed in the a chamber of the lower step-bearing and the I latter screwed upwardly from the lower end of the casing until the balls engage the beveled lower end 9 of the spindle bladelO.

' The step-bearing 7 may be conveniently rotated by introducing the blade of a screwdriver into the slot or groove 21. When the step bear'in'g has been screwed up into the lower end ofjthe casing'suificientlyto properly adjust, both the upper 'andlower bearings, it may be sealed by pouring a mass of soft metal or other sealing material 23' into "the lower end of the body of the; casing. "In" order then to readjust or dismantle the coiistruction it would be necessary to remove the sealing material 23-, unscrew or retract the lower step-bearing 7 until the spindle has dropped sufiiciently to permit the cup member 12 to be depressed enough so that the. ring-19, can be pried out or its groove 18, whereupon the spindle and upperbearing may be removed through the .upper end .7 of the casing.

' The" chamber 5 provides an oil'reservoir which will maintain the bearing in a" proper state of lubrication, oil being introduced through a suitable aperture inthe wallof the casing which may be closed by a cap 24.

'When ,a spindle becomes disabled, and

a sometimes for other reasons, it is desirable to stop the rotation of the spindle without removing the same from its supporting frame and in accomplishing this purpose the band is slipped from the pulley'of the whirl. In order to prevent the jumping of the band when thus disengaged from the pulley of the whirl I.. have provided a 7 groove 25 in the extension or the whirl abovelits pulley-in which the band may rest or run idly; This groove will prevent the jumping of the band and consequent jerkingof the spindle; I 1

It will ibe understood that the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is illustrative and not restrictive and that various other modifications may be made within the spirit'and: scope of" the following claims. 4 v

Having :fully' described my' invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure-by Letters Patent, is: f i

1.- A ball bearing' spindle comprising a casing having: a chambered upper end and anopenlower end, alspindle blade, a stepbearing forsaid spindle adjustably secured a in the lower end'of said c'asing, an upper ball-bearingin said chambered portion,'and 'means for securing said upper bearing'from removal from said chamber, unless the stepbearing is retracted. I 1 2.'A ball-bearing spindle comprising, a casing having a; cylindrical-chamber at its upper end and an open lower end,a spindle for said spindle adblade, a step-bearing justably secured in the lower end of said casing, an upperrball-bearing for said spin dle comprising a cone on said spindle blade, and a coeperating ball-retaining cup in said"cyli'ndricalichamber; and means for se curing said cup in" said chamber against removal, unless the step-bearingis retracted. [3". A, ball-bearing spindle comprising a casing having a cylindrical chamber at its upper end and anopen'lower end,a spindle blade; a step bearing for said spindle adjustably' secured-in the lower end of said casing, an upperball-bearing forsaid spindle comprising a cone on said spindle blade,

and a coepe'ratmgball-retaining cup fitting V the cylindrical walls of said chamber and having a beveled upperedge and circumferential groove inthe' upper portionof the wall of said chamber, and a ring removably seated in said grooveadapted to be engaged a by saidbeve1ededge, wlunieby 1 $?v said bearing cup cannot be removed, unless the stepbearing is retracted.

4. A ball-bearing spindle comprising a casing having a cylindrical chamber at its upper end and an open lower end, a spindle blade, a step-bearing for said spindle adjustably secured in the lower end of said casing, an upper ball-bearing for said spine comprising a cone on said spindle blade, and a cooperating ball-retaining cup having a creeping fit with the cylindrical wall of said chamber, and means for retaining said cup in said chamber, unless the step-bearing is retracted.

5. A ball-bearing spindle comprising a casing having an enlarged upper end presenting a bearing chamber and an open lower end, a spindle blade, a ball-bearing for said spindle blade within said chamber, an adjustable lower step-bearing in said casing having on its under side a transverse groove provided with undercut walls adapted to re ceive and support a sealing material, whereby tampering with the proper adjustment of the bearing may be prevented.

6. A ball-bearing spindle comprising a casing having a body provided with exterior screw threads and an enlarged upper end, a spindle blade, a step-bearing for said spindle having a screw threaded periphery engaging complementary screw threads in the inner Wall of said caslng, a transverse slot having an undercut wall in the outer face of said step-bearing adapted to receive a seal ing material, an upper ball-bearing within said chambered upper end, and means for v 8. A spindle comprising a casing, a spindle blade mounted therein, upper and lower thrust bearings for said spindle blade, means for adjusting said lower thrust bearing and means for sealing said bearing in adjusted position.

9. A spindle comprising a casing, a spindle blade mounted therein, a thrust bearing.

for the lower end of said spindle blade, an upper ball bearing and means including an expansible member for securing the upper ball hearing from removal.

In testimony whereof, I have name to this specification.

THEODORE M. PRUDDEN.

signed my 

